Fruit MInce Tarts #christmas #traditions

With Christmas only weeks away, it is time to begin our  preparation of the traditional Christmas fare. In my last blog post I gave you the recipe for the fruit mince, and now we will make the beautiful tarts that everyone knows and loves.

Ingredients:

1kg Fruit Mince Filling, cold- check the recipe from our foods blog
350g Butter - diced into cubes and chilled
400g Plain Flour
120g Self Raising Flour
80g Ground Almond Meal (If allergic to nuts, you can replace with plain flour)
90g icing sugar
1 Egg Yolk + 1 Whole Egg
1/3 cup Iced Water
1/2 teaspoon Salt
Extra flour and icing sugar for rolling and dusting

Method:
 
Blend all flours, ground almond meal, salt, icing sugar in the food processor or rub through your fingers until mixtures resembles breadcrumbs.
Add both eggs and iced water, combine well till the mixture starts to come together.
Knead dough and wrap in plastic film. 
Refrigerate for about 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 180C.
Spray a 6/12 hole muffin tin, mini foil baking pans, or any large pie tins you like to use with oil.
Roll out a portion of the pastry till 2mm thick between two sheets of baking paper with some flour. 
Cut out shapes to fit the tins you choose. (I use a mini muffin pan but slightly deeper than normal) 
Fill each tart shell with 1-2 teaspoons of mince but do not overfill.
Cover the top of each tart with another circle of pastry or use cookie cutters to cut different shapes to decorate the top. If you cover tart completely with  pastry, pierce the pastry with a fork to let the steam out.
Bake for 18-20 minutes until golden brown. Extra time may be needed depending upon the size of the tin.

Cool for 5 minutes in the tin then remove and place on rack to cool.
Dust with icing sugar and keep into a plastic container. (Can keep up to 2 weeks or refrigerate for 1month.)
Makes 30 mini tarts depending on the baking trays/tins used.

 

Contact: lee.leehocklai@gmail.com

Fruit Mince #Christmas #fruitmincetarts

Christmas is synonymous with fruit mince tarts which are very popular for this joyous celebration. Today, you can purchase this product easily, but most of them are too sweet and jam like. Why not try to cook these delightful little parcels at home.  Make them to your own taste and wants by using any type of fruit, add/reduce the  sweetness, spices, etc.... Good fruit mince filling can keep up to 2 -3 months. In preserving bottles, it can be kept for over a year without opening. 
Fruit mince filling can be used for a variety of uses, not only for making Christmas fruit mince tarts

, but used to bake cookies, slices ...or simply serve with vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients:

Part A:
 
1 kg Dried Mixed Fruit
1 kg Sultanas
1 kg Pitted Dried Dates
1/2  kg Dried Apricot
1/2  kg Dried Cranberries
250g Crystallised Ginger, chopped
Rind and juice from 2 oranges
3 tablespoons Lemon Juice
1/2 cup Honey
1 cup Brandy/ Whiskey*
1 cup Cointreau, orange liqueur*
1/2 cup sweet Sherry/ Port*
1/3 cup Mixed Ground  Spice
2 tablespoons Ground Ginger

Part B:

600g Red Apples
600g Green Apple
600g Pears
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1.5-2 cups Apple/ Pear Juice, no sugar added

3cm Cinnamon Stick
2 Star Anise

Method:

Chop dates, apricots and mixed fruit in food processor. Do not process until fruit is too small as the cooking process will break the it down.  If you do not have a food processor, chop the fruit with a knife.
Place all the chopped, dried fruit and remaining Ingredients A in a large bowl/pot, mix well , cover with a clean towel for 24 hours.
Peel apples and pears, dice into small pieces.

Cook with other Ingredients B in a large boiler on high heat for 30 minutes until soft.

Remove cinnamon stick and anise star.
Pour all ingredients A  into B, cook for another 20-30 minutes on low- medium heat.

Stir well several times to avoid burning the mixture onto the bottom of the boiler.

Cool and then place  into clean bottles or plastic containers. For best results, make the fruit mince filling one week early. Refrigerate, and use as required.

Hints:

• If you have preserving bottles, boil them for 10 minutes, dry with clean towel.

• Fill with hot fruit mince, fill to 95% full immediately.

• Screw lids on tightly and place  back into boiling water to cook for another 20-30 minutes (depending on the bottle size). The water must cover all the bottles when boiling them.

• Cool at room temperature and keep in a cool dark spot. The fruit mince will keep up to one year. 

Please keep check for our fruit mince productions in coming weeks.

• You can use any kind of wine/ liqueur. It not only adds a delightful flavour to the fruit mince, but also lengthens the storage time.

Christmas Youle Log #glutenfree #glutenfreerecipe #Christmas

This gorgeous festive cake is a beautiful addition to any Christmas table. It epitomizes the essence of festive season where beautiful food and the festive spirit are essentially intertwined. A decoration in itself, enjoy the sensory as well as the visual.

Chocolate Sponge

Ingredients:

 

6 Eggs - separated, room temperature. 
2/3 cup Caster Sugar
1 cup gluten-free Corn Flour
1/4 cup gluten-free Plain Flour
1/4 cup Cocoa Powder (optional)
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
Pinch of Salt
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Essence

Method:

Preheat oven to 180C.
Grease a large thin sponge tray. Line with baking paper on the base.  (30x15cm)
Sift all dry ingredients 4 times.
In a large bowl, beat egg whites and salt for 3 minutes.
Add sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.
Add egg yolks and vanilla.
Mix through gently until just mixed.  
Add dry ingredients, fold in gently with plastic spatula, do not over mix.
Pour into the tray and bake for 20 minutes.
Turn out onto rack, then decorate with cream after cooling.

Chocolate Butter Cream

Ingredients:

400g Butter - room temperature
2/3 cup Caster Sugar
1/4 cup Water
350g Dark Cooking Chocolate - melted
3 cups Icing Sugar - sifted.
1.5 tablespoon Brown Food Colouring (If it is not dark enough.)
2-3 cups Thickened Cream - whipped.
1 tin Fruit Cocktail (400g) - drained

Method:

Boil caster sugar and water on medium heat for 10 minutes.
Set aside to cool.
Beat butter in mix master for about 15 minutes at medium speed, until soft and creamy
Add melted chocolate and sugar water.

Roll in baking paper or tea towel

Beat for a further 10 minutes until smooth.
Add icing sugar and brown food colouring (if necessary) . 
If the butter cream is a little wet and soft, refrigerate for about 20 minutes. For best results, make it a day ahead.
Remove and place the sponge on a large baking paper or clean tea towel.
Spread with half of the whipped thickened cream.
Place drained cocktail fruit on the cream and roll the sponge.
Let it stand about 30 minutes in the fridge to prevent it falling apart.
Spread remaining whipped thickened cream on a large plate or cake board.
Remove the baking paper from the cake roll, spread top and sides with chocolate butter cream.
Using icing spatula, or fork, make stripes in the butter cream to make the cake look like a yule log.
Cut into 2-3 pieces on an angle.
Place them on the whipped cream.
Using a piping bag, decorate end of rolls to look like logs.
Dust some icing sugar on the top and decorate with some Christmas decorations. 

Decorate with icing bag to look like logs

Keeps in the fridge for about 5-7 days

Contact: lee.leehocklai@gmail.com

Arrange rolled sponge on whipped cream

 

Cut and serve!

Rich Fruit Cake #glutenfree #glutenfreebaking #Christmas

With Christmas just around the corner, it is time to bake your Christmas cake. Treat your guests during the festive season, or give this classic cake as a gift to family or friends. Begin your preparations now as this rich fruit cake can keep up to 3 months in a cool place, and it will be richer in flavour and even more delicious after 2 weeks. 

 Ingredients:

150g Butter - softened
1/3 cup Brown Sugar*
4 large Eggs
1 cup gluten-free Plain Flour
1 cup gluten-free Self Raising Flour
1 tablespoon Mixed Spice
250g Walnut or Pecan Nuts
1/2 cup Brandy, extra

A: 

1/4 cup Hot Water
2 tablespoons Jam (Any flavour is suitable, I use plum jam )
1 tablespoon Instant Coffee

B:

Stand overnight

1 kg Mixed Dried Fruit 
250g glace cherries
200g Pitted Prunes - halved
1/2 cup Brandy
1/3 cup Sweet Sherry or Port
1/3 cup Honey or Treacle
Combine all ingredients B, cover and stand overnight.

Method:

Preheat oven to 140C
Grease and double line a 24cm deep baking tin with baking paper. If possible, use a square tin as it is easier to slice.
Sift flour and mixed spice 3 times.
Mix ingredients A together, set aside to cool.

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until soft and creamy. 
Add eggs one by one.
Add ingredients A.
Pour 2/3 of dry ingredients in the mixture. Mix well.
Drain the ingredients B.  
Add into the mixture with remaining 1/3 of dry ingredients.
Mix well and pour into the baking tin. 
Spread and smooth the top with plastic spatula. 
Bake at 140C for 1 hour. Reduce to 130C for another 1- 1.5 hours until a skewer comes out of the middle totally clean 
Remove cake from oven. 
Brush the top with extra brandy.
Cover with a dry tea towel or aluminum foil.
Allow to cool in the tin overnight.
Turn out from tin. 
Remove the baking paper.
Brush whole cake with brandy, then wrap with aluminum foil and put into fridge or cold place.
* I only use 1/4 cup sugar as the fruit is already very sweet, but you can add more sugar if you like.

Tips:
Whisky can be used to replace Brandy
Cut the cake when it is just removed from fridge. Allow to come to room temperature.

Contact: lee.leehocklai@gmail.com 

 

Sago Plum Pudding #glutenfree #glutenfreerecipe #Christmas

With Christmas almost upon us, it is time to share some more of the festive spirit in the form of another recipe for your Christmas table! Why not make a few of these fantastic puddings. Wrap them in foil, then in a Christmas cloth, finish with a lovely ribbon and a sprig of holly and Voila - the perfect homemade gift that is sure to please.

Ingredients:

2 cups Milk
1 cup Brown Sugar
180 gram Melted Butter
1 cup Sago
2 tabs Brandy or Rum
1 tsp Vanilla Essence
1 tsp Mixed Spice
1 teaspoon Bicarbonate Soda - mixed in a little milk
2 cups fresh gluten-free Bread - crumbed in blender
2 cups Mixed Dried Fruit
2 Eggs

Method:
 
Place sago and milk into a saucepan and bring to the boil.
Once boiling, remove from heat and allow to sit with an occasional stir for about 1 hour - (If you watch closely you can stir and boil till it is soft)  
Once soft mix all ingredients together - (Looks a little runny but ok) 
Pour into a greased steamed pudding tin, cover with grease proof paper, then alfoil,put lid on tightly. Place steamed pudding tin into a saucepan, or boiler, of boiling water with saucer under.
Cover boiler with lid and boil for about 2 hours watching the water does not boil dry. - Top up water periodically. 
When done, remove pudding tin from boiler and simply pour pudding out onto a plate.
Serve with custard and have a great Christmas.


Tip:
Ignite a little brandy for a nice effect.

Contact: lee.leehocklai@gmail.com

Gingered Carrot Salad #glutenfree #salad #summer #christmas

For a change of pace and to celebrate the arrival of Summer in Australia, (I know that it is technically Spring, but it is hot enough to be Summer) I thought we would share this refreshing carrot salad with you. This salad is a great accompaniment for any barbeque, and also, with seafood, cold meats and salads gracing the tables of Australia on Christmas day, this is a perfect dish for your lunch. 

Ingredients:

8 Carrots - peeled and grated
4 Spring Onions - chopped (reserve a little for dressing)
6 sprigs of Garden Fresh Parsley - chopped (I use the sprigs in the dressing)
1 teaspoon Hot English Mustard
1 teaspoon Seeded Mustard
1 tablespoon Fresh Grated Ginger
Juice of one Lemon or Lime
1/4 cup Olive Oil

  

 Method:

Add carrot, spring onion, parsley and sultanas to a bowl.

Add remaining ingredients plus reserved sprigs and spring onion to blender - blend.  
Pour over carrot, onions, parsley, and sultanas.
Stir in, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, then serve. (A very refreshing side salad and little fuss)

Bon appetite!
   




Contact: lee.leehocklai@gmail.com
 

German Marble Cookies #glutenfree #glutenfreebaking #glutenfreerecipe

Christmas is almost upon us. We will share some of our special Christmas recipes with you. Today's recipe is for German Marble Cookies. I have found that they are very expensive in Asian markets, but as they only use ingredients that you have in your pantry, why not bake some at home. They are a delicious, melt in your mouth treat. Bake any time as a morning/afternoon tea treat. You will love them!

 Biscuits

Ingredients:

250g Butter - room temperature
100g Icing Sugar - sifted
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
250g gluten-free Corn Flour or Potato Starch
60g gluten-free Plain Flour - twice sifted
60g Cocoa Powder

Method: 

Preheat oven to 170C
Beat butter, vanilla and icing sugar until soft and creamy. 
Add corn flour and plain flour, mix well.
Separate the mixture into 2 parts. 
Add cocoa powder to the first half. 
The other half remains plain. Add more plain flour if the plain dough is still sticky.
Mix the mixtures together, but do not over mix. This gives you a beautiful marble look after baking.
Roll into small balls with your hand and place on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Be sure to leave enough spare room.
Use a fork to press the balls to half flat. Remember to flour the fork with plain flour after every 3-4 balls so the dough does not stick to the fork.
Bake at 170C for about 18 minutes. The time needed depends upon the cookie size. 
Remove from the oven and set aside for 10 minutes. 
Cool on a rack.

Topping

Ingredients:

100g Dark Cooking Chocolate

Method:

Roughly chop chocolate.
Place in bowl and melt over a saucepan of boiling water. 
Make piping bag from baking paper, shaped into a funnel. 
Cut feeder hole in bottom and fill with chocolate. 
Pipe onto cool cookies.  (In drizzle form) 
Makes up to 40-45 pieces.

Tips:

• These cookies are also delicious without the chocolate topping. Sift some icing sugar onto the top. Why not pop into a tin and give as Christmas present. 

• If you wish to give the cookies with the chocolate drizzle, make sure it has set before you pack away.

Contact: lee.leehocklai@gmail.com